286 ON THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE 



if the same quantity of flavor be diffused over a greater 

 bulk of fruit ; but I believe that the horticulturists consider 

 that they have improved the flavor, as well as the size of 

 the fruit. 



The influence of culture on variations results from its 

 influence on the soil, and the quantity and quality of the 

 nourishment afforded to plants. Hence some parts of a 

 plant may be made to prosper more than another; the stem 

 more than the foliage and fruits, if timber be required ; 

 the leaves more than the seed, if grasses ; or the fruit more 

 than the leaves, with most fruit trees. A change of color 

 may also be produced. Thus the Hydrangia, when first 

 brought from the Isle of Bourbon, was blue ; in this coun- 

 try it is commonly of a pale pink, and it is the soil prin- 

 cipally which has effected this change ; for if cultivated in 

 a ferruginous soil, similar to that of its native land, the 

 blue color is re-produced. Pink flowers may be thus 

 changed to blue or white : but cannot be made to assume 

 a yellow color; thus the Hydrangia, or the Campanul may 

 be varied from pink to blue or white, but you never see 

 them of a yellow color. 



( Emily. That is true ; Hyacinths are also pink, blue, 

 or white, but they are seldom of a yellow color. 



Mrs. B. They are the only flowers which form an ex- 

 ception to the rule, being sometimes yellow. 



The neighborhood of the sea produces a variation in 

 plants, rendering them more succulent or fleshy. 



Grafting also modifies the variations of plants. The art 

 of pruning has very considerable influence, by modifying 

 the direction of the sap ; but its effect, however great on 

 the individual plant, produces no change on its successors. 



Trees are pruned with a view to improve their beauty, 

 their health, or their produce. Trees were formerly cut 

 and trimmed into all kinds of grotesque figures, according 

 to the tasteful ideas of beauty of our ancestors. Since 

 this barbarous system has been exploded, that of heading 

 young trees, in order to thicken the branches and foliage, 

 has been introduced ; but this, we have agreed, injures 

 the natural port and character of a tree ; and all that is 



1542. What does Mrs. B. say on the same subject 1 ? 1543. What 

 does she say of the superior growth of particular parts of the same plants'? 

 1544. What instances of change of color are mentioned! 1545. 

 How are plants effected by the neighborhood of the seal 1546. And 

 by grafting 1 ? 1547. With what view are trees pruned, and how were 

 they formerly done! 



